It Started with a Quote – “People who keep journals have life twice”.

“People who keep journals have life twice”. Jessamyn West (American Writer)

I began journaling in about 1985 after reading the book, The Artists Way, “A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity”, by Julia Cameron. I continue journaling to this day (with a few interruptions over the years). In her book she writes about the benefits of journaling and instructions on how to do it to get maximum benefit. She calls her method “Morning Pages”. In her instructions she writes,  “There is no wrong way to do morning pages.” What a relief to the perfectionist in me! Here is my understanding of how to do Morning Pages:

• They are non-negotiable. They must be done every day.
• Once I begin to write there is no stopping, no lifting the pen to think or hesitate.
• I write until I have completed at least 3 pages.
• I do not censor or give any thought to spelling or punctuation.
• I begin with whatever is “on top” no matter how mundane, negative or petty.
• I do not judge what I have written because I do not revisit it.

There isn’t space here to cover all of the benefits I have received and I will be forever grateful to Julia Cameron for introducing me to this form of journaling. Here are a few of the major benefits I have received:

• Rids me of the “negative thinking loop”so I can get on with more creative endeavors
• Helps me to think more clearly – my mind is not clouded or at least less clouded
• I feel like I am honoring myself – not waiting for others to do it for me
• For me, it is a form of prayer and meditation
• I gain prospective on problems-solutions surface
• Rich gratitude surfaces
• Wisdom pours out of my pen that I did not know existed within me

Because of the rich benefits I have received from journaling, I offer journals to others free of charge as a part of my ministry. I keep a basket of journals in my office (all shapes, sizes and colors) and invite people to choose one and use it. I invite them to come back as many times as they wish when their current one is used up. Certain people seem to get great delight in perusing through to see the new ones. When I am out shopping in certain department stores I derived much pleasure from selecting new journals to offer. I sometimes wonder who will be writing in particular ones. From time to time I imagine that these journals I buy will contain words that are as life-transforming to the writer as my journals have been to me.

A deep, heartfelt, “Thank you”, Julia Cameron!

Rich Blessings,
Janie Kelley

 

 

It Started With A Quote – “You can never become poor by giving.” Anne Frank

In this holiday season many of us have giving on our minds. Whatever tradition we choose to follow, giving of some kind is prevalent on the minds of many of us. Whatever we choose to give, be it tangible or intangible, in many cases the giving of the gift has more of an impact than the gift itself. Research shows that an act of kindness releases a flood of “feel-good” hormones in the body of the giver, the recipient and in the body of anyone witnessing or hearing about the act of kindness. These hormones cause us to feel relaxed, cared-for and safe. They also help to regulate blood pressure, glucose and promote a general sense of well-being. These are only a few of the known benefits. I was recently moved to tears while watching a young man who is visually impaired and challenged with severe autism win the highest score possible on “America’s Got Talent”. He had just amazed the judges and audience with his beautiful voice, piano and expert delivery of his song.  The audience and judges were on their feet in a standing ovation long before he finished! I do not know him and quite possibly will never meet him and yet I felt so happy for him!

We may choose to give a tangible gift that is expensive in terms of money. Or, we may choose to give a gift that has a lower price tag. Yes, it is a lot of fun to get (and to give) that tangible gift that has been longed for and there is a place for that type of giving. We may give the gift of our presence either in person, through a phone call, using Skype or some other form of communication. Our undivided, uninterrupted attention is one of the most honoring gifts we can give to another person. When we give with a spirit and energy of love, the impact is far greater to the person receiving than they sometimes realize.

We get back what we give out; we reap what we sow. “As you give so do you receive”. That being said, we will never be poor through our genuine, heartfelt giving. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “You cannot out-give God.”

I agree with Anne Frank, “You never become poor by giving”.

It Started With a Quote – “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.” Edna Buchanan

I was in a 12 Step meeting he first time I heard the term, “family of choice”.  I’m sure I got a perplexed look on my face because I thought, “WHAT? Everybody knows you don’t get a choice when it comes to family; you get what you get.” But I was wrong! Who says your family has to be Luck-of-the-Draw? Yes, we have those people with whom we grew up – either blood or adoptive relatives but then we get to choose!others We get to add as many as we want and we get to pick them out!

From the time I first heard that term until now I have chosen family members by the hundreds! I have often thought how much fun it would be to have a family reunion of the people I have embraced as my family of choice. They are all shapes and sizes, all shades and hues of skin, many speak with interesting accents (some multi-lingual), some with amazing abilities and some who have made the best of what the world might classify as disabilities, some quite skillful, some amazingly talented, some loud; some quiet, some highly intellectual, some natural comedians, some are salt-of-the-earth and nurturing, some incredibly financially wealthy and some not so much. Because my interests are so wide and varied so are the people who make up my family of choice. The thing they all have in common is this: THEY ALL LOVE ME! And they know I love them.

Our Creator is so good to put people in our lives that enhance our lives in so many ways. It is our job to be awake and aware enough to recognize when we are in the presence of a potential “family member”. We must be conscious enough to see the traits in them that would enhance our lives and we will have opportunities to enhance theirs. They will have flaws, just like we have flaws. We will love each other, forgive each other and make amends when we need to and continue to enhance each other’s lives.

Some of the people I have chosen to be in my family of choice may not know it but that is immaterial. Some I may see very seldom if at all. Absence and distance does not keep me from loving them. I have placed them in my heart as my aunt, uncle, cousin, sister, brother, mother or father and that is what matters to me.

None of this takes away from the love I have for the family that I have because of birth or by marriage. Love is not in short supply. The more you give away the more you have. As the song goes, “Love is something if you give it away; you end up having more.”

Have you selected your family of choice? I highly recommend it!

Rich Blessings to You!

Janie

It Started With a Quote

“Oneness is very simple, everything is included and allowed to live according to its true nature” Llewellyn Vaughn-Lee

We hear a lot about being authentic and vulnerable. We read a lot about being true to ourselves. We send off for reports that tell us about our ancestry. We do these things because, as humans, we have an innate need to make sense of our world. The more science reveals to us the more we know that we are connected with each other and all of nature. What do we do with this information? How does it change the way we live our lives from day to day? What changes take place within us as we assimilate this information?

Llewellyn Vaughn-Lee, PhD is a Sufi Mystic. He was born in London and now lives in California where he founded The Golden Sufi Center.  Over about a 5 year span he wrote a blog for the Huffington Post, has written more than 20 books and he has been interviewed by Oprah on Super Soul Sunday. Many of his books are focused on spiritual teachings about oneness.

The concept of “the oneness of all things” may be a challenge to grasp given we are taught from birth about separation. We are given a name that identifies us from others and we are taught “this is mine and that is yours”. As we become aware that we are not only global in our community (connected) but also that the globe (earth) itself is a part of us as well. We are aware (thanks to quantum physicists) that there really are no well defined edges to anything or anyone. We are all a part of the “cosmic soup”. We know now that merely looking at an object causes changes in that object. Since we have the power to change objects simply by giving it our attention; how could we be separate?

 

It Started with a Quote- “Shoot for the Moon! Even if you miss you will land among the stars.”

“Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss you will land among the stars.” Les Brown (Motivational Speaker)

What a wonderful way of looking at life! Go for the BIG ONE! Go for what you REALLY want. Not what is expected of you – not what someone wants for you. Always go for the biggest dream you have! If you know all of the steps that it will take to get to your dream; if the way is clearly defined – then your dream isn’t nearly big enough!

It doesn’t cost any more to dream big than it does to dream small. Dreaming small is when we have let life steal away the bigger dream and replace it with a “safer” one. A so called safe plan can fail just like a big dream and maybe the odds are even greater because your whole heart is not in a “safe plan”. So, go for the biggest dream you can imagine! As long as you are not doing harm don’t let anything stop you. Some of my favorite “failures” are these:

• Walt Disney went bankrupt 5 times before creating one of the world’s most famous brands in entertainment.
• Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hanson were turned down by 144 publishers before finding a publishing house that would produce their book, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”.
• Henry Ford went bankrupt 3 times before producing the automobile.
• Fred Astair was turned down for a major role early in his career because the casting agent said, “He can’t act, he’s bald – but he can dance a little”.
• Louis Lamour was turned down by more than 300 publishers and agents before his first paperback western novel came into print. He went on to write more than 200 books, many of which were bestsellers.

Yes, it is hard to push through those setbacks and downright rejections. But, much of the time, success is just on the other side. And, “… Even if you miss you will land among the stars”. When moving forward and pushing through those dark times of temporary defeat we become better human beings if we grow as we go. The growth will not just hit you over the head. You must stay awake and aware of the good that is happening as a result of pursuing your dream. Even in the midst of seeming defeat, look around; you are among the stars.

Extend a Hand

I get to teach my Living Full-Tilt workshop this weekend! The best part of the whole event is that I get to give to others some of the life-altering information that helped me when I was at rock bottom. I get to extend a hand!

There are spiritual principles that govern the universe that we live in and when we work with these principles rather than against them our lives have a flow that is otherwise not possible. We first must be aware of these principles in order to align with them.

I get to teach principles about worthiness and deservability, forgiveness, giving and receiving, gratitude, life purpose, goal setting and commitment. The spiritual principles that govern these areas of life are here to support us as tools to build a life that we love living.

God set principles in motion to help us, not hinder us. “I know the plans I have for you, said the Lord of Hosts; plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” When we are not aware of these principles and how to work with them building an extraordinary life would be difficult at best.

What do you know how to do that would extend a hand? We each have gifts to give to each other. What is yours?

Mindful Eating

In our hurried society (especially this time of the year) we have all but lost the ability to really appreciate, taste and enjoy our food. We find ourselves just bolting down anything that we can find that is quick and convienient. I am writing from experience. I enjoy being busy and productive, therefore, I must plan for meals or I end up doing what I just described. Planning in advance keeps me from eating whatever is handy or skipping meals altogether.

Since beginning my spiritual practice of Insight Meditation, some years ago, I have learned the steps to mindful eating. I cannot say that I always follow these steps but I am getting better at it as time goes by. The steps that I have learned are:

• Take time to be genuinely thankful for the food. Bless it and all of the people that it took to get it to you.
• Allow yourself time to look at the food and really breathe in the aromas. It is said, “We eat first with our eyes.”
• Eat slowly. Chew each bite thoroughly. Feel the textures and really taste the flavors of the food.
• Eat only to the level of satiety. For most people that would be about 2 cupped handfuls.By eating slowly we are aware of being satisfied much sooner. Much of the time this leads to weight loss and a healthier body.
•  Sit for a period after eating and allow yourself once again to be thankful.

For more in depth instruction and information on mindful eating there is a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, entitled Mindful Eating.

 

Opportunity

“Infinite Mind will put ideas in your mind, words in your mouth, creativity in your hands, boundless opportunity before you, and guiding light on your way.”            Eric Butterworth

I believe that Spirit gives us everything that we need to have every heart’s desire; including the heart’s desire itself. We are first given the idea of the heart’s desire, then the ability, creativity, and every opportunity that we need. When we act on those opportunities that we are presented we are given “light” all along the way until the heart’s desire is made manifest in our world. No good thing is ever withheld from us. We may not act on the opportunities that are presented. We may not even see the opportunities because of past experience or societal conditioning but that does not mean that the opportunities are not within our reach. When we miss one opportunity another will come along. I know that this is contrary to the old addige “Opportunity only knocks once”. I believe that this statement is false and causes the discouragement of many gifted people. “If you being earthly parents like to give good gifts to your children, how much more does God want to give good gifts to those who ask.” God sends unlimited opportunities. Isn’t that what you would do for someone that you love? 

Sometimes we are awake and aware and we do act on all the opportunities presented to us in our lives but there is always the possibility that we give up too soon. What if you could see into the future and you knew for sure that you only needed to continue to act on your inspired idea for a while and you would reach your goal. Would you give up then? Of course not! If you can’t see into the future but you know in your “heart-of-hearts” that your idea stands a chance to succeed, would you continue? Remember: Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because of “lack of imagination”, Michael Jordan didn’t make the basketball team one of his high school seasons because he “lacked talent”, and the Harry Potter series was turned down by many publishers before it became an overwhelming success. Winston Churchill was given 2 hours to make a speech. When the time came he stood up and said, “Never, never, never give up.”, and sat down. We would do well to take his time honored advice when persueing our heart’s desires.

Keep and open heart and an open mind (they are not exactly the same, you know) and say “yes” to every opportunity AND “Never, never, never give up”.

Future Happiness

“The best way to secure future happiness is to be as happy as rightfully possible today.” Charles Elliot

Great advice! So how do I make myself happy today? There was a time when I felt low and depressed most of the time, with an occasional spark of lightness that I would not even call happiness. That was my life. I did not know any better. Nothing in my life had trained me to do better than that.

Today, it is just the opposite. I feel happy about my life in general and an occasional bout of sadness (short lived). What is my secret? If I had one it would be that at some point I made up my mind to get to the place of being genuinely happy no matter what it took. I was tired of being miserable most of the time.

I have done many things to turn my life around. A few of those things are:

1. Trained myself to “look for the good”. Always and in all ways.
2. Watched only funny and uplifting movies and TV shows
3. Surrounded myself with people who were like I wanted to be.
4. Kept a  list of positive affirmations with me and used them regularly, not just when I felt down.
5. Used a book named 14,000 Things to Be Happy About (and still do).
6. Prayed that I would be shown the way to happiness.
7. ETC. – The list is very long

The most important of all of these things is my decision to be happy. It is a decision that I make everyday. “Most people are as happy as t hey make their minds up to be.” Abraham Lincoln

I agree with him.

 

Family of Choice

“Friends are the family we choose for ourself.” Edna Buchanan

Close friends are the jewels of life. They are more precious than diamonds or gold. It has been said that to have one really close friend, with which you share unconditional love, is rare. Many of us have unresolved trust issues that we allow to stand in the way of getting really close to another person. It has been my experience that people with trust issues have felt betrayed by someone close to them and have not yet been able to forgive and learn to trust again. To forgive does not mean that we must put a stamp of approval on the behavior of the other person. It simply means that we no longer want to carry around the hurt.

When we go about choosing our close friends it is best done through wisdom and experience. And let us not forget intuition. It is perfectly fine to trust appropriate people. We recognize appropriate people based on the experience that we have had with trustworthy people and our “inner voice”.

It is indeed one of life’s most precious gifts to have the unconditional love of another person. To have “family of choice” that will love you through the “ups and downs”, through your triumphs and your sorrows, through disagreements and anything else that life brings is most precious. If you have such a person in your life, allow yourself to feel the gratitude. If you have yet to find such a person, use your intuition and wisdom and open your heart. It may just be the next person that you meet!